%0 Journal Article %J Matern Child Health J %D 2013 %T Health disparities among childrearing women with disabilities. %A Kim, Miok %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %A Hong, Seunghye %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System %K Child Rearing %K Child, Preschool %K Chronic Disease %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Services Accessibility %K Health Status Disparities %K Health Status Indicators %K Health Surveys %K Healthcare Disparities %K Humans %K Middle Aged %K Mothers %K Prevalence %K Quality of Life %K Socioeconomic Factors %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

This study examines leading health indicators for childrearing women with disabilities, including health-related quality of life, chronic health conditions, adverse and preventive health behaviors, health care access, and social and emotional support. The study analyzes aggregated data from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 28,629). The weighted prevalence of key health indicators of childrearing women with disabilities (aged 18-59) are compared with childrearing women without disabilities. A series of adjusted logistic regression analyses are applied, controlling for confounding variables. When compared to childrearing women without disabilities, childrearing women with disabilities are less likely to have a partner or spouse, report lower income and education levels and are older. Childrearing women with disabilities, compared to childrearing women without disabilities, report significantly lower health-related quality of life including poor general health (adjusted odds ratio[AOR] = 6.85; p < .001), frequent mental distress (AOR = 4.02; p < .001), and frequent poor physical health (AOR = 9.34; p < .001); higher prevalence of chronic health conditions, including arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and obesity (the range of AORs = 1.59 to 5.65; p < .001); higher prevalence of adverse health behaviors including smoking (AOR = 2.14; p < .001) and lack of exercise (AOR = 1.61; p < .001); more financial barriers to health care (AOR = 2.11; p < .001) and lack of social and emotional support (AOR = 2.05; p < .001) while controlling for age, education, income, and relationship status. Based on population level data, the study reveals that childrearing women with disabilities experience elevated risks of health disparities across many key health indicators, many of which are preventable and modifiable. These findings underscore the importance of identifying contributing factors and developing interventions to improve the health and quality of life of childrearing women with disabilities.

%B Matern Child Health J %V 17 %P 1260-8 %8 2013 Sep %G eng %N 7 %R 10.1007/s10995-012-1118-4 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2012 %T Limited English proficiency and psychological distress among Latinos and Asian Americans. %A Zhang, Wei %A Hong, Seunghye %A Takeuchi, David T %A Mossakowski, Krysia N %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Asian Americans %K Communication Barriers %K Female %K Hispanic Americans %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Minority Groups %K Multilingualism %K Prejudice %K Socioeconomic Factors %K Stress, Psychological %K United States %K Young Adult %X

English proficiency is increasingly recognized as an important factor that is related to the mental health of immigrants and ethnic minorities. However, few studies have examined how the association between English proficiency and mental health operates and whether the pattern of association is similar or different among various ethnic minority groups. This paper investigates how limited English proficiency directly and indirectly affects psychological distress through pathways of discrimination for both Latinos and Asian Americans in the United States. Findings suggest that, for Asian Americans, limited English proficiency has an independent relationship with psychological distress over and above demographic variables, socioeconomic and immigration-related factors and discrimination. For Latinos, however, socio-demographic variables and discrimination show a stronger association than limited English proficiency in affecting psychological distress. Different forms of discrimination - everyday discrimination and racial/ethnic discrimination - are equally important for both ethnic groups. Findings underscore the differential role of limited English proficiency for the mental health of Asian Americans and Latinos and suggest the distinctive racial experiences and backgrounds of these two ethnic groups.

%B Soc Sci Med %V 75 %P 1006-14 %8 2012 Sep %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.05.012